BGS Career Development

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Science: Working Life

ASCB: “Trainee survival tips: the importance of self-care”

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Acknowledging the difficulty of being a graduate student or postdoc, this ASCB article provides tips for self-care. Notably, the author recognizes that stressors can arise even when everything is going well, so self-care should be considered an ongoing priority. Five general tips include:

  1. Find something that you enjoy and try to incorporate it into your daily routine.
  2. Choose the right people to socialize with.
  3. Take a break when you need it.
  4. Take time to decompress each day.
  5. Love yourself.

The author provides further explanation and specific examples of each. Read more here.

Science: “How to find the right place for your Ph.D. or postdoc”

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This Science Careers post features insights from various researchers at different career stages. They each discuss their experiences when searching for a lab, principal investigator (PI), adviser, or training position. As they describe the pros, cons, and specific questions they considered, readers may gain perspective on their own career path.

Read more here.

The Open Notebook: “Feeling Like a Fraud”

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This feature in The Open Notebook explores the phenomenon known as impostor syndrome, specifically within the field of science writing. According to the author, feelings of being an impostor are especially common in competitive and creative fields, and those where evaluations are subjective. Within the field of science writing, there is an additional component. Writers tend to compare their multiple, imperfect drafts with others’ polished, published pieces.

The author also describes tactics to mitigate feelings of impostorism, such as seeking social support or reframing your accomplishments.

Read more here.

Science: “Develop your career label”

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This article in Science describes the career challenges faced by scientists who find themselves entrenched in a niche field. As the author explains, “That’s great if what you’re doing is aligned with your passions and long-term goals—but it’s a big problem when it’s not.” Since the hiring process tends to be compressed, recruiters may focus on the applicant’s current, niche responsibilities rather than extrapolating about their larger potential. The author provides decision-making tips to avoid becoming stuck with a too-narrow label.

Read more here.

Science: “Like virtual reality for careers: A new online resource helps scientists explore job options”

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This article in Science describes the career exploration path of Shengpei Wang—a fifth year Ph.D. student at Syracuse University in New York. While considering a move toward a career in data analytics, Shengpei found herself unsure of whether she was capable of the career switch. She visited her university’s career support center, where she learned of a set of online “job simulations.”

The author describes how the simulations helped Shengpei and other scientists at various points in their careers to explore various industries before making a decision. Each simulation takes about 4 to 8 hours, considerably less time than is required to explore potential careers through training, internships, or interviews. Topics include business, clinical trials, science communication, regulatory affairs, and more.

Read more here.

BGS Professional Skills Series – “Networking”

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BGS invites you to attend the second workshop in this year’s Professional Skills Series for PhD students – “Networking: Developing Career-Focused Relationships.” The workshop will cover a variety of networking strategies. Light refreshments will be served. The workshop will be led by Career Services’ Associate Director, Dr. Joseph Barber.

When: Wednesday, November 14, 2018, 4:00-5:30 PM

Where: Smilow 08-146AB

Please register by November 9, 2018!

To register, click here or copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser:

https://goo.gl/forms/fOhtmN1tCburU2gs1

If you have any questions, please contact Rebecca Lopez.